Mechanism for feeding a string loop into a clip attachment apparatus

Abstract

A clip attachment mechanism includes therewith a two-stage mechanism for feeding a cord loop sequentially and singly into the pathway of a u-shaped metal clip moving down a channel in the clipper for attachment about casing material. The two-stage operation includes a mechanism for removing loops, one at a time, from a tape having a plurality of loops mounted thereon. The loop removed from the tape is positioned through a series of shutters. It is then transported by a second transport mechanism along a defined pathway and the tie end of the loop is inserted into a window to the clip channel of the clipper.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a clip attachment apparatus of the type including a clipper having a frame with a clip channel that receives and guides movement of a U-shaped clip along a pathway through the channel toward gathered material at one end of the channel, said clip having a crown and depending spaced legs; a punch reciprocal in the channel; an anvil at the one end of the channel for forming the depending legs of a clip driven by the punch about gathered material; a clip window in the frame that receives and guides movement of a clip therethrough into the channel; a clip feed mechanism for feeding clips through the clip window into the channel; the improvement of a mechanism for feeding a flexible cord loop into the pathway of a U-shaped clip moving in said clip channel toward said anvil, said loop formed from a flexible cord and mounted on a tape supported by the frame, said loop having a loop end and a tie end, said tie end releasably affixed to the tape, said mechanism adapted for feeding the tie end into said clip channel pathway whereby the crown of the clip engages the tie end against gathered material, said mechanism for feeding comprising, in combination: (a) a tape feed device including a storage roll for a tape with a series of loops mounted thereon, a plurality of rollers for guiding the tape with the loop end positioned for movement in the direction of tape movement, one of the rollers defining an angular change of direction of the tape;   (b) a plunger on the frame for engaging the loop end and diverting the loop end from the tape upon the angular change of direction;   (c) a loop transfer arm reciprocally mounted for movement between a loop end engaging position and a loop removal position, said transfer arm including an active end for engaging the loop end and moving the loop end through an alignment slot as the tie end of the loop is released from the tape;   (d) a transfer tie end gripping arm support belt, said belt mounted for reciprocal movement on a drive wheel and idler rollers;   (e) a tie end gripping arm extending laterally from said reciprocating belt and moveable by means of said belt between a position for engaging the tie end of the loop and a position for positioning the tie end in the pathway of a clip in the channel; and   (f) a loop window leading to the clip channel, said gripping arm effective by movement with the belt to position the tie end in the clip channel pathway.   
     
     
       2. The mechanism of claim 1 including means for retaining the tie end in the loop window projecting into the channel. 
     
     
       3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said reciprocating belt is an endless belt, and said endless belt reciprocates to alternately feed a loop into the loop window and then return to said tie end engaging position for feeding a subsequent loop into the loop window. 
     
     
       4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the loop transfer arm is bifurcated to fit through the loop end of the loop and thereby engage and move the loop.